Description:

1932 (March 9) France-Australia-New Caledonia #254a intermediate cover to New Caledonia carried by French aviators Baron de Verneilh, ME Deve and E Munch in the Couzinet 33 'Biarritz' endorsed "Via Brisbane/per courtesy/of Capt Deve" with Kingsford Smith 6d violet tied Sydney '30MR32' datestamp and Brisbane '31MR32' transit alongside Noumea '6-4/32' arrival on back, some light aging marks, Cat $1,500. [The plane crashed on arrival at Tontouta Airport, New Caledonia but the crew escaped injury, as presumably did the mail; the Eustis signed example sold for $2,013]